I bought a package of Ranger Alcohol Ink Surfaces at Michael’s the other day and wanted to try it out. The package contains 5 sheets of foil and 10 sheets each of matte and gloss finishes cardstock. The surface sheets are 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2”, which is pretty good size for making cards. What I liked was this would give me a chance to see how the alcohol inks reacted to these different surfaces.
I used Expresso, Pool, and Purple Twilight alcohol inks on the foil finish cardstock and controlled the direction of the inks with a Giottos Rocket Air Blaster. Then, I put a sealer on the cardstock, not only to protect the surface, but also to even out the contrast between the dull and shiny areas of the alcohol inks. Watercolor paper, sprayed with Wilted Violet Distress Spray Stain, was used as a background behind the alcohol ink cardstock. (After I sprayed the distress spray stain on the cardstock, I wiped it with a paper towel to get a softer look.) Both these sheets were anchored with Scor-Tape onto the black cardstock base.
Because I live in a northern climate, I’m trying to find an alternative protective sealer for the alcohol inks over the winter (I like Krylon Matte Finish, but I need to spray it on outside). I used Liquitex Professional Gloss Varnish on this card. I ‘painted’ it on with a brush, and it left a beautiful protective finish…but the smell-it was so strong to me. I’ll save the bottle until the spring when using it outside will be an option.
Materials Used:
- Tim Holtz Ranger Alcohol Ink Surfaces Package: 1 sheet of foil finish cardstock
- Strathmore Watercolor Paper, Cold Press, 90 lb.
- Black Cardstock
- Alcohol Inks: Expresso, Pool, Purple Twilight
- Tim Holtz Distress Spray Stain, Wilted Violet
- Giottos AA1900 Rocket Air Blaster, LARGE
- An older Ranger non-stick Craft Sheet
- Scor-Tape: 1/2″
- Liquitex Professional Gloss Varnish
Thanks for stopping by. Have a beautiful day!
Diane